Torah Tidbits

Energizing our Lives! 

Shabbat Parashat Mishpatim

Shabbat Mevarekhim HaChodesh 

February 6, 2016 – 27 Shevat 5776   

Dear Friends,

Shabbat is the “day of rest”…but the rest of the week is for doing!  headshot white 2015cropped

Shabbat is a time for re-energizing our lives by allowing us to experience the moment, to appreciate life, and to envision the world as we would like it to be.

As a day of rest, Shabbat helps us to be active, to be more effective, to observe, to learn, to lead, to create, to shape the world we live in, and to bring more blessing into our lives and the lives of those around us.  We cannot reasonably hope to complete all of our work in one week.  But, the precious gift of Shabbat helps us find renewed energy to keep on doing, week after week!

Our Torah portion, Mishpatim, includes one of the most powerful responses of our people to the gift of Torah: Na’aseh v’nishmah [We will do; and we will listen].  (Exodus 24:7)

This week we will be celebrating Sisterhood Shabbat (this year, for the first time, on Shabbat morning!).  Sisterhood Shabbat always adds a level of energy to our congregation’s spirit and I look forward to celebrating it with you!

When we gather together as a congregation on Shabbat, we have the holy opportunity to listen to the message of Torah as well as to the voices of one another.  This combined listening opportunity, enhanced this week by Sisterhood Shabbat, will allow us to grow stronger as individuals and as a congregation, to re-energize our community, and ultimately to do what we do best, to realize our highest aspirations and achieve our highest goals!

Shabbat Shalom!
Rabbi Gilah Dror

P.S.  This Shabbat we will also recite the blessing for the new Jewish month of Adar 1.  Rosh Chodesh Adar 1 will be on Monday night, Tuesday and Wednesday of this coming week!  May it be a month of joy and of blessing!